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What is the City doing?

The City of Livermore has been working towards a sustainable community for several years. The following are policies and activities in energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, and community and design that are aimed at reducing the City's environmental impact.

Energy

Civic Center Library Solar Photovoltaic System.

A ground-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation system is being installed behind the library. The system will supply 1.2 Megawatts of electricity to City Hall, the Police Department and the Library. The system is designed to reduce future electrical bills at the three facilities by approximately 90%. This will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 2 million pounds per year - equivalent to taking 175 cars off the road each year. This project is a collaborative effort between the City and Chevron Energy Solutions and is part of a larger Energy Conservation Package.

Green City Hall.

In 2002, the Livermore City Hall was renovated using salvaged and recycled materials from the original building. The renovated building includes a 100-kilowatt Photovoltaic System generating 13.5% of the facility's annual electricity.

Climate Action Plan.

Adopted by the City Council in November 2012, Livermore's Climate Action Plan outlines ways to reduce the amount of GHGs produced within the City to a level 15 percent below 2008 conditions by 2020.

The Capacity Project.

The Capacity Project is a joint effort by the City, Chevron Energy Solutions, and WattzOn that helps Livermore residents, businesses, and students identify free and low-cost ways to reduce energy use and save money on utility bills.

LED Street Light Conversion.

7,100 existing high pressure sodium (HPS) cobra head street lights were replaced with high-efficiency LED fixtures that use less electricity and emit better quality light than the existing street lights.

Hybrid vehicles and charging stations.

The City operates seven hybrid vehicles and has installed charging stations at both City Hall and the Maintenance Service Center for electric City trucks and employees with electric cars.

Waste

Livermore Recycles.

The new Livermore Recycles program is a user-friendly resource developed by the City and Livermore Sanitation for residents and businesses to learn about Livermore's cutting-edge waste reduction programs such as composting and recycling.

Reusable Bag Ordinance.

Beginning January 1, 2013 with the Reusable Bag Ordinance, stores in Alameda County which sell packaged foods stopped providing customers with single-use plastic bags upon checkout. Consumers are encouraged to bring reusable bags from home.

Styrofoam Ordinance.

Beginning July 1, 2011, the City of Livermore's Ordinance banned Styrofoam® 'to-go' containers for foodservice businesses.

Recycled Product Procurement Policy.

City staff purchase and use recycled materials for City operations such as green office supplies, furniture, park benches, picnic tables, and school and park playground structures.

Annual electronic waste events.

Livermore has conducted annual Electronic Waste Recycling events for residents and businesses. These events enable participants to comply with State regulations that prohibit the disposal of e-waste in landfills.

Water

Water efficient landscape ordinance.

This ordinance established standards for designing, installing, and maintaining water efficient landscapes that avoid run-off and other waste in landscape projects.

Recycled water.

Recycled water has been produced at the Livermore Water Reclamation Plant for over 30 years. City water treatment facilities utilize effluent filters and an ultra-violet disinfection system. The recycled water system contains over 14 miles of pipe-line, a pump station, and a 1.9 million gallon reservoir. The City uses recycled water for irrigation and fire protection.

Landscape water conservation system.

Many civic areas are connected to the Landscape Water Conservation System via a centralized irrigation system that schedules irrigation cycles based on evaporation rates provided by a weather station. To minimize water waste, sites are frequently checked and automatically shut off when a broken pipe or large flow increase is detected.

Community and Design

Farmers' Markets.

The City has two farmers' markets, one year-round and another during the summer, where residents can buy locally grown and organic produce, enjoy live music, and taste local Livermore wine.

Urban Growth Boundary.

Livermore is completely surrounded by an urban growth boundary that protects existing agriculture uses and natural resources outside the City from future development.

Tree Preservation Ordinance and the Tree City USA Program.

The Tree Preservation Ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and standards for the protection of trees on any parcel of land within the City.

In April 2012, the Arbor Day Foundation recognized the City as a Tree City USA community for our commitment to urban forestry. The City has earned this national designation for the past 19 years, and was commended for making planting and caring for trees a priority.

Spare the Air Program.

The City is active in the Spare the Air program and the Tri-Valley Resources Subcommittee of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Since 2002, on declared Spare the Air days, City maintenance crews minimize or eliminate turf mowing, paving work, and the use of two-cycle engines. Visit the Spare the Air website to find out if a Spare the Air alert is in effect.

Bay-friendly landscaping ordinance.

This ordinance requires City projects to incorporate Bay-Friendly landscaping practices. Bay-friendly landscaping is a whole systems approach to the design, construction, and maintenance of the landscape in order to support the integrity of the San Francisco Bay watershed. Some key components include reducing waste and using recycled materials, nurturing healthy soils while reducing fertilizer use, and conserving water and energy.

Civic Green Buildings Ordinance LEED requirement.

The City adopted the Civic Green Building Ordinance in 2004 to promote sustainable construction and use of new Civic buildings. The ordinance requires a minimum LEED silver rating.